About Ascent Equity Capital 

Ascent is a Chicago-based private equity fund focused on partnering with outstanding CEOs to build leading companies.  Ascent makes all of its investments through its CEO in Residence program, which involves Ascent partnering with a proven CEO first, and then working with a CEO to acquire or start-up an attractive company.  Ascent looks to invest in companies with recurring revenue, high margin business models that can be built into leaders in their industries.
 

Ascent Equity Capital's investment strategy is to invest in transactions where: (i) a private company is under-managed or “under the radar”, (ii) new management is able to improve the operational performance and implement a successful growth plan, and (iii) after a company has achieved critical mass and demonstrated strong growth and margins, a company is attractive to a number of large corporate buyers and larger private equity groups.  

Ascent Equity Capital makes equity investments of up to $2 million, and brings in larger private equity firms to partner with on acquisitions of companies up to $1 billon in enterprise value.  In the past Ascent has partnered with private equity groups such as Great Hill Partners in Boston, and Frontenac Company in Chicago on management buyouts of companies with enterprise values as high as $100 million.  

Ascent is actively seeking investments in companies in the business-to-business services, consumer services and products, financial services, and media and publishing sectors.

Ascent's executive search division, Pinnacle CEO Recruiters, Inc., recruits CEOs with proven track records for larger private equity groups, while its investment banking division, Ascent Investment Bank, sources acquisition opportunities for private equity groups.